Mianne benchwork

I'm using felt on top of my Homasote on top of plywood on my 1x4 framing. Again, the stackup from the benchwork up, 1/4 inch plywood, screwed directly to 1x4 benchwork, 1/2 in Homasote screwed again, to benchwork and plywood, and then green felt as my top layer stretched and glued with 3M headliner glue in key places (mostly edges). Recently upgraded to Atlas track on Woodland Scenics foam roadbed. Also, entire table is over carpet and heavy curtain skirting. (And mountain of boxes underneath also aides in dampening any reflected noise from the flat bottom surface of the table.

My thought is, the gain of adding felt between plywood and framing would not help. In other words, the plywood is the sounding board, not the thin and rigid benchwork. Further, you appear to have feet between the benchwork and flooring.  Now if you stretched a huge layout of felt all along the bottom of the plywood, that could dampen the reflection- but then again, so would carpet on the floor. Just think of the massive flat planes of hardwood floor and table top being parallel reflecting back and forth. Also side skirting of thicker material will help dampen that reflection and sound from the bottom of the table surface and in your case- that flat floor.

I recall someone suggesting a sill sealer, like Reflectix, along all the rails. I don’t know how well it works though because it’s only 3/16” thick.

https://www.reflectixinc.com/products/sill-sealer/

@DoubleDAZ posted:

I recall someone suggesting a sill sealer, like Reflectix, along all the rails. I don’t know how well it works though because it’s only 3/16” thick.

https://www.reflectixinc.com/products/sill-sealer/

The typical foam or cork roadbed is only 1/4" thick.

John, good point, just not sure how much it will help with sound between the plywood decking and framing. Did you use anything in your layout?

I have plywood on top of the frame with cork roadbed and Atlas O track. It is quiet. No sound deadening needed.  

Vernon,

The whole layout will be clogged with the empty boxes we all live with underneath. Wifey plans to make a skirt around the left side and front to hide the mess underneath. That should kill some noise. Its a shared room for guests, so the box mess needs to be hidden.  I think I have a noise problem.

@DoubleDAZ posted:

John, good point, just not sure how much it will help with sound between the plywood decking and framing. Did you use anything in your layout?

My main level is 1/2" Baltic Birch, 1/2" Homasote, and the track is on 1/4" foam roadbed.

That’s what I thought I remembered, John. My problem with most suggestions I read here regarding sound is there are no tests to confirm what end up being subjective opinions. Who’s going to build a layout without material between the decking and framing, then go back and add it?

I didn't use anything between the top rail and the plywood.

I have 3/4" ply on the Mianne benchwork plus a layer of 1/4" cork and then acoustic ceiling tile on the cork as the final layer.  I run Atlas track on Woodland Scenic foam roadbed.

It's the quietest layout I've ever had.

@452 Card posted:

Vernon,

The whole layout will be clogged with the empty boxes we all live with underneath. Wifey plans to make a skirt around the left side and front to hide the mess underneath. That should kill some noise. Its a shared room for guests, so the box mess needs to be hidden.  I think I have a noise problem.

I think you do with that hardwood floor. I bet that room echos now. Again, as simple as a throw rug, some carpet, something, will make a huge difference.

It's just as much about the room and details of the floor, walls, and other aspects as it is about the table. You could think you are making a quiet table, and the the room amplifies the noise negating your cost and efforts.

@DoubleDAZ posted:

That’s what I thought I remembered, John. My problem with most suggestions I read here regarding sound is there are no tests to confirm what end up being subjective opinions. Who’s going to build a layout without material between the decking and framing, then go back and add it?

Bingo! My main level is very quiet running, and I attribute most of that to the Homasote.

My second level loop doesn't have the Homasote, and I'm putting Butyl rubber sound insulation on the underside to knock down some of it's noise.  It's surprising how effective the Butyl rubber at about 1/8" thick is.  Once a lot of the second level is enclosed, that will further attenuate the noise, so I think it'll be good.